FuBarbell went down to train at Max’s Gym (@mxaita) this...

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FuBarbell went down to train at Max’s Gym (@mxaita) this morning. Great sesh with @paddygriffin and the lifters of Max’s club (@joannaita7, @cindy5250). As always, so great to interact with Max and his athletes. It really brings the energy of the training session up and Max has a great perspective on approaching the lifts. Fun times.

Want to get better at lifting? Go train outside your comfort zone and listen to the perspectives of other coaches. Keep your mind open and your stomach full. #FuWisdom

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Having difficulty staying patient over the bar? Not sure what that even feels like or need another way to develop that back strength? Check out this little nugget from Max Aita (@mxaita) of Max’s Gym: the straight/stiff-leg snatch.

Used as a complimentary component to a more robust weightlifting protocol, give this piece a try for a 3-4 week block starting at ~70% of your 1RM snatch for 4-5 sets of 2 and build up towards 80% (or above if your skill and strength allow).

Hung out at Max’s Gym today in Oakland and lifted with Max...

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Hung out at Max’s Gym today in Oakland and lifted with Max (@mxaita) and JoAnn Aita (@joannaita7). It’s great to get out of your own club, train in a different space, and also get a fresh pair of eyes on your lifting. Max is a master at the squat. It’s been great being able to pick his brain on squat technique and mechanics. Here he is smashing an easy 270kg/594lbs. Legitsville.

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Hanging out at Max’s Gym (@mxaita) this morning to get some work done on our squats. Max’s best back squat is 335kg/737lbs and holds an elite total in powerlifting. This exercise is called “the handle squat” used to build up the quads for a stronger leg drive.

The question came up recently of what the rate of descent should be for a squat. Should it be fast with the body dropping into the hole or slow and controlled as you make your way down?

Priority is given to maintaining the (upright) angle of the trunk so the rate of descent should allow for the body to maintain this line of action. Move too fast and the bar might crush you. Move too slow and you’re eating up valuable gas.